"The school is only ten minutes away, which is nice. And it's not to close to the city." Samantha told Martin. The car was quiet for almost the whole ten minutes. Samantha turned the car into a small parking lot next to a modest building with windows where covered in childlike paper cutouts; pink flowers, yellow suns, and multicolored hands. "Did you want to come in?" Samantha asked Martin as she climbed out of the drivers' side and assisted her daughter in getting out of the car. "Sure, if you want me too."
"Cecilia would like it. So would I."
Martin got out of the passenger side of the car and followed Samantha and Cecilia though the parking lot. Ceel was holding her mother's hand and the other hand was holding her teddy bear Marty recognized from the night before. Martin caught up to them and walked closely to Sam.
The three of them entered the school, which was already filling with little kids and their parents. Samantha and Cecilia knew where to go, and Martin followed close behind. The classroom only had a few students in it, and more were coming in. An older woman walked toward them, Martin guessed it was his daughter's teacher.
"Hi, Miss Carole!" Cecilia said as she walked toward a cubby labeled 'Cecilia F.', she had her father's last name. "Hello Cecilia," The older woman replied and then looked up at Samantha and Martin, "Hello Samantha, how are you today?"
"I'm doing well, Carole. I'd like you to meet someone," Samantha glanced toward Martin, "This is Martin Fitzgerald." Martin shook Carole's hand.
"Fitzgerald? Would that make you…?"
Samantha nodded, "Cecilia's father."
"Of course, she looks just like you." Martin didn't really know what to say, so he just nodded.
"We should probably get going. Nice seeing you again, Carole." Samantha looked toward her daughter, who was getting her desk ready. "Cecilia, do want to say goodbye?" Cecilia ran over to her mother, who had knelt down ready to hug her. Cecilia hugged her tightly, "I love you mommy."
"I love you too." Cecilia pulled away and looked up toward Martin. Awkwardly, Martin also hugged Cecilia. "Bye, Dad. I'll see you later." Samantha was smiling as she watched them. "I'll see you later." Cecilia walked back toward her desk. Samantha said goodbye to Carole, then her and Martin walked toward her car.
In the car, Samantha put her keys in the ignition but didn't turn the car on. Martin looked over at her; she had sadness in her eyes. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's just hard leaving her." Marty reached over and held her hand, "It's okay, and she seems to like it there. And her teacher is really nice."
"I know. I just feel bad." A few seconds later, Samantha started the car. "It's only eight. We can go back to our house you want."
"Okay."